EM residency...what's it like?

[Keberson]

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What are hours like for an EM resident. I've heard some do 12s some do 10s and some do 8s or a mix. How many hours a week or a month?

When your shift is over...do you actually leave around then or 2-4 hours later?

I guess it varies with residency.

 

[GeneralVeers]

What are hours like for an EM resident. I've heard some do 12s some do 10s and some do 8s or a mix. How many hours a week or a month?

When your shift is over...do you actually leave around then or 2-4 hours later?

I guess it varies with residency.

We do 12s in a two shifts on, two shifts off pattern. The 12 hour shift usually lasts about 13 hours total after sign out. In general we stop seeing new patients during the last 1/2 hour of our shift, unless they are acutely ill. Some people hate doing 12s, and you're definitely tired when you go home, but I love all the days off I get.

 

[NinerNiner999]

Yeah, 12 hour shifts can be draining, but is directly proportional to the volume seen where you work. Some smaller programs with 12 hour shifts don't leave you as drained. Of course, you will have many days ""off" that occur between the switch from nights to days, which doesn't feel like a day off. I like eight hour shifts because they seem to fly by and they still leave me with time during the day to live. They are also more flexible with your circadian rhythm. The downside is that you work more shifts. IMHO, I think a program that mixes 8 and 12 hour shifts lets you experience both types of shift patterns, but gives you time outside of residency. Either way, you will still put in 50-60 hours/week as a resident in the ED - just figure out how you divide those hours...